Ram Jet 350 vs. 350 H.O. Deluxe

[bazkook]

Hi,I'm in the process of restoring a 70 C10. I plan to use the truck as a daily driver and do a little towing to the track. The truck has an inline 6,3 speed on the column,and 3.73s. I want to put a 700R4,keep the 3.73s,and put a 350 in it,preferably a crate motor for convenience,but I can't decide on whether to get the 350 H.O. Deluxe or the Ram Jet 350. The H.O. Deluxe is about $1000 cheaper than the Ram Jet but I know the Ram Jet will most likely get better fuel economy and have better street manners than the H.O. Deluxe. Is the step up to the Ram Jet worth it? What kind of gas mileage would each get? Thanks in advance for the help!

[49studebaker]

That's a tough question...I actually own one of each. The H.O. Deluxe is in my Studebaker and it performs awesome, runs a bit rough when cold and the Holley carb. has a few problems on inclines under hard acceleration, but the 71 GMC is going to be a daily driver and I figured it would do better on the wet, cold, hot days. I'm sure there are members on this board that will tell you a carburated engine will run good all year around, but once I remove the heat riser, original air cleaner, and install headers, it just seems you lose the reliability of a carburator. I bought the Ram Jet because once I dump all this money into my 71, It damn well better perform like a new truck. I wish I could tell you how the Ram Jet runs but my truc is currently in the build process.

[PanelDeland]

Well the Ram Jet has an injection system on it from the factory.It is already calibrated,installed and comes with an engine that requires mounting and hooking up a couple wires.If you go with the H.O. and want injection down the line you will probably spend at least $1500.00 on the inj.system and then have to do all the work to get it funtioning right.
So if you want the benefits of injection the Ram Jet seems the way to go.

[N2TRUX]

It was worth it for me. I can't say anything bad about the 350 HO because I almost bought one. I can tell you I really like my Ramjet 350. I considered both as well, but by the time I put any kind of induction system on the 350 HO other than a single 4 barrel it was going to cost as much if not more than the Ramjet did.

I also put a 700r4 behind mine, but I left the stock 3.08 gears. I'm running a 295/40/20 (29" tall) on the rear which surprisingly works very well. I think a 3.42 gear would be about perfect. Your 3.73 will give you an awesome bottom end, but will hurt a little on the top end unless your planning on running a tall tire.

[bazkook]

If I did get the 350 H.O. I would have kept it carbureted,so I wouldn't have to worry about the conversion to fuel injection. But the Ram Jet will probably be my best bet anyway. It'll start better in cold weather and have better driveability than the H.O. I'm probably going to get the Ram Jet. By the way I'll probably ditch the 3.73s in favor of 3.42s if the 3.42s will tow just as well. Will they? I don't plan on running a big tire so tall gearing is not really important to me. Thanks for all the advice guys!

[49studebaker]

JMO, but if I were going to do frequent towing with a 4000 lb load, and be putting some miles on the road, I'd rather have the 3:73's. With the overdrive transmission it ought to work rather well. Besides, if you have to pay someone to change perfectly good gears, it will cost around $1000 for parts/labor. My 95 GMC goes down the road with 3:73/4L60e running about 2500 rpm's. That's not bad. When I tow in hilly country, I have a hard time using overdrive. The Ram Jet will deffinately have more h.p. than my 95 though.

[classicchev]

Ramjet all the way!!!!!!!!! One wire hookup, and a electric fuel pump, waaaaaaaaaaay easier than a TPI conversion (which I have done, and also have a Ramjet, 502 though).

Spend the extra, you will make that up in grieve, and fuel economy.

[long69]

another vote for the ram jet. if you ever wanted forced induction later on it would be a piece o' cake

[bazkook]

Originally Posted by long69

another vote for the ram jet. if you ever wanted forced induction later on it would be a piece o' cake

One great reason why I will probably get the Ram Jet. I'm having to sell a 78 Camaro with a 383 that I was going to race due to financial situations,so later if I wanted to have a fast streetable vehicle I could just add a supercharger or turbo to the truck.

[redneckdds]

n2trux, I have the same setup as you... what are considered tall tires?

[x ReAcT x]

Originally Posted by classicchev

Ramjet all the way!!!!!!!!! One wire hookup, and a electric fuel pump, waaaaaaaaaaay easier than a TPI conversion (which I have done, and also have a Ramjet, 502 though).

Spend the extra, you will make that up in grieve, and fuel economy.

Im curious, is there an electronic fuel pump that will fit right in the stock gas tank on the truck? What fuel pump did you use on your swap? Im about to do a v6 to RAMJET 350 swap and im trying to get everything in line so i dont go over my head. I dont mean to pester you with questions but how hard is wiring the engine into the truck?